The Sunnah Secret: How Voluntary Prayers Complete Your Worship

The Sunnah Secret: How Voluntary Prayers Complete Your Worship

What Are Sunnah Prayers?

Aside from the 5 obligatory daily prayers that a Musilms must perform, the Sunnah prayers are recognized as the optional/ voluntary prayers. These prayers are performed in the guidance of the practise of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), with the aim to earn as much reward as possible and ultimately please the Lord. 

Neglecting these prayers shouldn’t warrant a believer to face punishment as these prayers are Mustahab (encouraged), and not wajib/fard (obligatory). However, their importance ranks so highly that it is recommended we prioritize it.

There are two types of Sunnah prayers: those performed before the obligatory prayers, such as two rak'ahs before Fajr and four before Zhuhr, and those performed after the obligatory prayers, including two rak'ahs after Zhuhr, Maghrib, and 'Isha. The steps for Sunnah prayers follow the same pattern as the five daily obligatory prayers. The main difference lies in the number of rak'ahs, or units of prayer, which may vary depending on the specific prayer.

In Islam, the Holy Quran and the Prophet (PBUH)’s sunnah are the fundamental sources of guidance. While the Quran does not explicitly mention the 5 daily prayers, it does however, imply its obligation. This command is then delineated by the Prophet (PBUH). If we are to further study and understand the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), we can easily interpret the numerous additional forms of worship he used to do to get closer to Allah. This proves that these kinds of sunnah prayers aren’t the only type of non-obligatory prayer noted by the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH). He was observed to have prayed numerous types. You can get a closer look at those by having a look at one of our previous blogs: Beyond the Basics: Unlock the Power of Non-Obligatory Prayers. 

Importance of Sunnah Prayers

When a Muslims makes the effort to get up early and for the sake of Allah and prays the sunnah prayer before the obligatory Fajr prayer (as explained in the below hadith) they receive immense reward as it is considered better for a Muslim than the  whole world and whatever it holds, as reported by Aishah (RA),

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains." [Sahih Muslim 725a]

Another narration states that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

 "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are dearer to me than the whole world." [Riyad as-Salihin 1102]

This Hadith solidifies the concept that the Prophet (PBUH) would rush to fulfill this good deed and would rather participate in an act that would better his status in the hereafter instead of run towards materialistic and worldly commodities. He would much rather prefer pleasing Allah than anything else. Even though this attribute of the Prophet (PBUH) has been proven through various instances, this haditch acts as a reminder of how we should continue to follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and forgo prioritizing materialist and worldly entities.

Additionally, it goes to show just how beneficial the 2 rakat of Fajr sunnah are for a Muslim, not only does it increase your number of good deeds and bring you closer to Allah, it also has the potential to better your situation in this world. 

Beside the fact that sunnah prayers carry their own meanings, rewards and importance. It is a great reminder that nothing in the world is better than the act of worshiping Allah (SWT). Our Salah is one commodity that will protect us in aspects we can’t even be able to comprehend, in this world and in the hereafter. Our Salah acts as a conscious reminder to refrain from sin, acts as a mode of repentance, weighs heavily on the scale of good deeds, and protects us from the punishment of the grave. The punishment of the grave was so terrifying to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) that he would religiously recite the below supplication, 

With the hustle and bustle of life,  it has become increasingly difficult to maintain and uphold all the responsibilities bestowed upon us, worldly or religious. It seems extremely easy for us to just pray the obligatory prayers and move on with our day, but the essence and peace of taking time to worship our Lord can not be described by words. 

If you find yourself having to pray on the go, but don’t have the right facilities, DEENIN would love to offer a solution! The ABDEEZ Portable Prayer Mat is the most beneficial and useful prayer mat you’ll find in the market. Made of the most lightweight but durable material, the Portable Prayer Mat is easy to clean with corner weights to keep it in place even on windy days.. Additionally, it was strategically designed to include a built-in Qibla compass aiding in minimizing the possibility of praying in the wrong direction. 

To top it all off, The mat comes with a handy pouch that attaches to your bag or belt loop for effortless portability. Whether you’re off-grid, in the office, or a place of study, the Portable Prayer Mat can easily be taken anywhere without any hassle.

To further emphasis the importance of sunnah prayers, some scholars believe that Allah (SWT) will look at our obligatory prayers and if there are any deficiencies then Allah will then look upon our Sunnah prayers and look for anything that will help make up for any deficiencies that we may have, this is why it is crucial we pray as many Sunnah prayers as we can, whenever we can, proving that not only do these additional, voluntary prayers benefit us in the gaining the best reward in Jannah, but they also act as a mode through which we can attain the ultimate reward in the first place. 

As in a narration by Aisha (RA) states,